“Terrorism Has Gone Viral” *Open Thread*

So reads the headline at FoxNews.com late Sunday afternoon after an intense week of blaming the victim, and the death of two ISIS*-wannabe terrorists in Garland, Texas. (*At least ISIS took credit for it.)

Yes, it was all the talk on the Sunday shows, based on reports Friday that the FBI and Department of Defense were acknowledging the threat posed by ISIS on American soil. From Fox News:

Top U.S. officials and lawmakers on Sunday intensified concerns about the growing threat of jihad-inspired terror attacks against the United States, after last week’s attempt in Texas and the dire FBI warning that followed.

“I think there’s been an uptick in the stream of threats out there,” Texas GOP Rep. Mike McCaul, chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, told “Fox News Sunday.” “We’re seeing these directives on almost a daily basis. It’s very concerning. Terrorism has gone viral.”

McCaul’s comments follow the May 3 attack by two gunmen outside a “Draw Muhammad” event in Garland, Texas.

And that is just the beginning, as McCaul notes regarding FBI Director James Comey’s remarks:

[…] “The siren song sits in the pockets, on the mobile phones, of the people who are followers on Twitter,” Comey said. “It’s almost as if there’s a devil sitting on the shoulder, saying ‘Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill,’ all day long.”

McCaul said Comey was “exactly right” and that trying to find ISIS’ calling for terror attacks across the broad spectrum of social media is “like trying to find a needle in a haystack.”

He also said the terror threat now is “one of the highest that I’ve ever seen” and warned of similar incidents in the future.

“It’s going to get worse, not better,” he said. “This is very difficult to stop.”

Oh, awesome. That is just awesome. But it isn’t just Rep. McCaul, or James Comey, or the head of the Pentagon making these determinations:

Also on Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said the U.S. is facing a new phase of terrorism in which a so-called lone-wolf terrorist, inspired by Islamic State propaganda on social media, could “strike at any moment.”

The Obama administration has said the attack in suburban Dallas last week was a “lone wolf” effort.

“We’re very definitely in a new environment, because of ISIL’s effective use of social media, the Internet, which has the ability to reach into the homeland and possibly inspire others,” Johnson said on ABC’s “This Week.”

[…]

California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, on Sunday also agreed with Comey.

“I think [the Islamic State’s message] is ‘kill, kill, kill,’ ” she said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “It’s a force that we really haven’t seen before, and we have to begin to cope more seriously with it, and that includes social media.”
[…](Click here to read the rest.)

Doesn’t that just make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside? While the vast majority of the media is blaming the victim Pam Geller, for having the audacity to exercise her First Amendment rights, thus causing those poor ISIS terrorists to want to assassinate her and every one there, our nation is facing REAL threats from radical Islamic Extremists, even if Obama can’t bring himself to use the term.

A little bit more about that whole media thing. In the case referenced above, I am speaking of none other than the Associated Press which had this Tweet from Townhall:

[…] The exhibit didn’t “result in deaths.” These were not accidental shootings or deaths caused by some sort of tragedy. Nobody goes to an art exhibit expecting to be shot. The people who were killed were jihadis intent on carrying out a fatwa on Geller. Geller should not have to say she “regrets” anything–the rational or expected response to a controversial exhibit is not the attempted mass murder of everyone in attendance.

The AP’s attempt to clarify the tweet blaming someone who was almost murdered for nearly being murdered was…just as bad.

Again, it didn’t “end in gunfire.” It “ended with two people storming the exhibit with guns who then met their demise at the hands of armed security.” A very easy way to avoid being shot by armed security is to not try to shoot everyone attending an event. Simple as pie!

This is the United States of America. Hosting a controversial art exhibit is not a justification for violence. Nobody shot up Andres Serrano for his (government-funded) picture of a crucifix submerged in a jar of urine. Nobody attempted to harm Chris Ofili for his picture The Holy Virgin Mary, which portrayed a picture of the Virgin Mary covered in pornographic images and elephant dung. Blasphemy of all kinds is protected by the Constitution, like it or not. Was Geller purposefully inflammatory? Yes, probably. So were Serrano and Ofili. That doesn’t mean someone should try to kill any of them. […] )Click here to read the rest.)

Uh, yeah, no – no Christians went ballistic and armed themselves with AK-47s to go after these artists because, well, they are not death-loving barbarians intent on making everyone kowtow to their version of their religion. So there is that…

All of this is revealing in terms of the threats facing this nation from ISIS, but also very real threats to our free speech. On both of those counts, Judge Jeanine Pirro had a powerful Opening Statement Saturday night:

Now, I admit, I have a hard time with some of these media people continuing to paint what Geller did as “dumb” like Bill O’Reilly and Juan Williams have done, acting as if there is ANYTHING we could do that would appease these lunatics without forgoing our Constitutional Rights. I haet to say it, but I am including the Judge herself since she referenced the conference as “dumb,” though at least she defended Geller unlike O’Reilly and Williams have done. And at least the Judge said it helped to open up this conversation which seems timely indeed given the “viral” nature of the threats ISIS poses to our country. Kinda makes you wonder if we would have known this information otherwise, doesn’t it?

Bottom line, we have some major issues going on in this country thanks to radical Islamist extremists – the threat of violence within our borders as well as the threat to the rights our Founders sacrificed EVERYTHING to gain us. I’d say we better do whatever is necessary to ensure neither one of these events happen – attacks on our soil, and losing te right to speak freely.

Exactly, Marge. Free speech does not have any “buts” to it. It is free, or it isn’t. Why people like O’Reilly and Williams are trying to placate those who will NEVER be placated no matter what we do and thereby attack someone who had every right to say what she did, and oh, btw, has been directing attention at a national crisis with a claim now confimed by the head of the DHS, the head of the FBI, and the Pentagon. So, who, exactly, is the “dumb” one in this scenario?

I have to admit – I don’t read Geller very often – usually when a friend puts up something of hers. But I resent like hell the way she is being treated for what she does, for all the very personal, mean-spirited attacks on her, when she is utilizing her rights. SHE was the target, not the ISIS terrorists – funny how our media forgets that.

The White House was scrambling Monday to put a positive face on an upcoming summit of Persian Gulf states after learning leaders from four of the six invited nations are expected to skip.

While those nations are still sending representatives to the summit being hosted by President Obama later this week at Camp David, the absence of crucial heads of state — notably, Saudi Arabia’s new king — could present an awkward situation for the administration.

Isn’t that something? I was listening to Outnumbered on the way home from taking 3 out of 4 cats in for their annual visits (my ears are still ringing – it is a 45 minute drive each way, and one of our cats let us hear abt it the entire way there, and the entire way back. Cannot wait until we sell our house and live only 7 minutes away from the vet…). Andrea, I believe it was, pointed out that only 2 out of 6 of the main leaders were attending. That is TERRIBLE, and speaks volumes abt what Obama is doing with foreign policy. Heck, it seems he has even lost the king to whom he bowed. Ugh…

when if comes to free speech, I think of Skokie Ill and the nazis. they had a right to march. It an ignorant thing to do and yes it was insulting to the neighborhood they chose to have the march. But there is also the right to turn your back in contempt for what they are preaching or just not give them the attention they want.

I remember a scene in an old movie where supposedly Dolly Madison told a fired up crowd against Aaron Burr just turn your back on him that will send a message of your contempt for him rather than resort to violence

Well, it isn’t shocking to us because we have been paying attention to all of the machinations of this Administration. But I am sure it would come as a shock to too many, who would then dismiss it as some Republican/right-wing attack…

I agree with every word he said and how well he said it. I have been saying for days that anyone that excuses the actions of the Muslims, extremist instead of the free speech we are entitled to under our constitution is a useless waste of oxygen. The is no I believe in free speech but… You do or you don’t. And the truth is most on the left don’t.

Another truth parents might want to think about is that when you send Junior or Sissy off to college there are leftist Professors just waiting to teach your offspring to hate everything you believe in and to be exactly the “but” people Whittle speaks of. And those parents are paying through the nose for the privilege.

I say if you want well education young people who know HOW to think and haven’t been indoctrinated it’s time for Charter Colleges. Left with only the scions of wealthy left and right coasters the elite and dismal colleges, Ivy and otherwise, will whither on the vine. And rightly so.

It should be longer. Brady and the Pats are known cheaters, and yet, they get these slaps on the wrist, and nothing really changes. The teams who played them and lost because of the cheating don’t get any do-overs at the big championship games or anything, and the Pats continue on their merry cheating way.

Talk about terrorism this happened a few years ago. The kid was throwing rocks at the Border Patrol guy and got shot for it. (I can only tell you that rocks in that area are not pebbles but more the size of bricks and larger). The BP guy shoots the kid after several warnings. Kid dies, the bridge has spectators and now mama wants to sue for money to get justice for the death of her son.

Please – this is just ridiculous. Her son was assaulting a BP agent and refused to stop. This is the mindset of the Obama crowd that they are teaching now – people can do whatever they want to cops, and refuse to obey orders, becoming the victims when they pay for their actions. Just incredible.

More: Shares of AOL soaring more than 18%, moments after it was announced that Verizon would acquire the company – @CNBCnow
Read more on cnbc.com
AOL
13m
Telecom giant Verizon to buy AOL for $4.4 billion in cash deal – @WSJ
Read more on http://www.wsj.com